DJ, selector charged and remanded for inciting rape at Soesdyke bar

A DJ and a selector were Monday remanded to prison after they were charged for inciting rape committed on a 20-year-old girl at Raghoo’s Bar at Soesdyke Junction last week.

The accused, Leon DeFreitas, 37, and Ryan Rajnarine, 30, appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Friendship Magistrate’s Court.

The charge was laid under Section 3(3) of the Sexual (Offenses) Act Chapter 8:03.

They were not required to plead, and the matter was adjourned to August 18 for disclosure.

The charge was laid hours after Police issued a wanted bulletin for the prime suspect, Barry Sullivan.

Police said Sullivan, 29, a resident of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, is wanted for questioning in relation to rape.

The incident has sparked public outrage, prompting an investigation. The bar has since been shut down by authorities.

Police Headquarters in a statement said the young woman reported the incident to police around 8:20 p.m. on July 18.

The victim subsequently told the Police that she was drugged and raped. She said she was assaulted at the bar while bystanders watched and filmed rather than intervene.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, condemned the attack in a statement, calling it “most reprehensible” and criticizing the inaction of those who recorded the assault instead of helping.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has also launched an urgent probe into what it described as a “matter of grave concern.” Officials warned that continued sharing of the video may further violate the victim’s privacy and interfere with the ongoing investigation.